The judgments of God are not necessarily an eschatological subject; God’s judgments have been present throughout the entire history of Adam’s generation. The Bible records cases of extraordinary judgments like those on the cities of the plain, specifically Sodom and Gomorrah, precisely because the men of Sodoma were wicked and sinners against the Lord.
24 Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.
Genesis 19:24-25
The first chapter of the epistle to the Romans establishes that all cities of the world have been subjected to God’s judgments on more than one occasion:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness:
Romans 1:18
And among God’s judgments, three stand out that have been repeated most often throughout history. The first, judgment due to rejecting God despite the prosperity He established among them,
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Romans 1:21-24
The second, judgment due to establishing idolatry in their regions,
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Romans 1:25-27
Finally, the third, judgment due to having removed God from their topics of reflection,
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; 30 Whisperers, 31 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 32 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Romans 1:28-32
And in this same line, the apostle Peter establishes in his first epistle that the judgments of God begin first at the house of God, thus establishing that God’s judgments have been, and are, inevitable.
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1 Peter 4:17
So, we cannot speak of God’s judgments believing they are situations of future punishment, as if they were extraordinary events, because the entire Bible gives testimony of their existence in every inhabited city and throughout all times.
If this is so, why the need for a doctrine about judgments?
The doctrine of the apostles instituted within their basic doctrines a particular doctrine of “final judgment,” because the spiritual nature of the Gospel of the Kingdom demands that those to whom the Gospel is proclaimed also know the consequences of rejecting it. This principle was established from Jesus’s teaching:
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18
However, the emphasis of the Doctrine of Eternal Judgment is on several particular judgments on the inhabitants of the earth. The first of them,
- JUDGMENT ON ISRAEL
The judgment on Israel is due to their rejection of Jesus. It was established as a principle of judgment from the time when the prophets prophesied about the Babylonian exile.
The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.
Isaiah 59:8
Recorded in the book of the prophet Isaiah as the cause of their spiritual sickness,
From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. Isaiah 1:6
Recorded in the book of the prophet Jeremiah as the result of not having obeyed the Law of Jehovah,
For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
Jeremiah 4:22
The prophet Jeremiah prophesied about the coming judgment,
Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the Lord, and with your children’s children will I plead.
Jeremiah 2:9
Also, the prophet Ezekiel prophesied about the coming judgment,
7 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you; 8 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations.
Ezekiel 5:7-8
This judgment was certified by those who demanded Jesus’s death,
Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
Matthew 27:25
The judgment on Israel is in the time prior to Jesus’s coming; according to the apostle Peter, it is the starting point for the remaining judgments,
…for the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: …
Daniel prophesied according to how he was instructed about a time of trouble upon Israel,
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Daniel 12:1
Jesus defined this time of judgment over Israel as a time of great tribulation,
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Matthew 24:21
- JUDGMENT ON THE NATIONS
We know of the existence of this type of judgment from Jesus’s direct teaching to his disciples.
The judgment on the nations is God’s judgment on all those nations of the world that mistreated the people of Israel after their expulsion from their land by the Romans. First prophesied by the prophet Joel,
I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land:
Joel 3:2
It is also judgment on nations that did not allow the entry of the Gospel of the Kingdom.
Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Matthew 10:15
22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
Matthew 11:22-24
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Mark 6:11
This judgment is in the time before Jesus’s coming but after the tribulation on the people of Israel and the people of God,
Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
2 Thessalonians 1:6
- THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST
This judgment is mentioned only once as part of the direct teaching of the apostle Paul,
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10
This judgment is at Jesus’s coming, just before the millennial reign begins. It should not be confused with the Great White Throne Judgment, as that is the final judgment, at the end of the thousand years. This judgment is to determine who will participate in the “marriage supper of the Lamb.” Jesus defined this judgment as “the weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
It is established in the accounts of the Gospels. John the Baptist presents it as part of Jesus’s lordship over the earth,
His fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Matthew 3:12
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
Luke 3:17
Some identify this judgment with the final judgment, mainly because these texts speak of fire that is never quenched. The writer of the Gospel of Mark uses the expression “Gehenna” to refer to unquenchable fire,
44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Mark 9:44-48
The Hebrew expression was used to refer to the place where the kings of Judah sacrificed their children by fire. It is the transliteration of the word Gei Ben-Hinnom, which is translated in the writings of the prophet Jeremiah as “Valley of the Son of Hinnom.” Thus, it does not refer to being cast into hell but to suffering as a result of following an apostate doctrine.
And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.
Jeremiah 7:31
On the other hand, if we look closely, the action referred to by John the Baptist pertains to Jesus’s government over His people, and the only time the Bible gives testimony of this action is during the millennial reign, which according to the book of Revelation, is when Jesus will rule over the earth with a “rod of iron.”
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Revelation 20:4
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
Psalm 2:9
And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father:
Revelation 2:27
And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
Revelation 12:5
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Revelation 19:15
Moreover, we have the testimony of Jesus Himself. When Jesus explained the parable of the wheat and the tares, Jesus highlighted that such action, burning the tares with fire, is precisely at the end of the age:
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:39-42
Additionally, as part of the teaching Jesus imparted to His disciples, the expression “the weeping and gnashing of teeth” is linked to the celebration of the marriage supper of the Lamb, as confirmed in the parable of the ten virgins,
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Matthew 25:10-12
The weeping and gnashing of teeth is the lament for not participating in that for which they had been qualified and instructed, but due to the negligence of not persevering in their convictions, they lost the opportunity to enjoy it,
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 8:12
And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:42
And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:50
Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 22:13
And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 24:51
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:30
- THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT
This is the final judgment. It is the judgment where the final and eternal destiny of humanity is decided, based on the decision each person made in life, of acceptance or rejection, regarding the message of salvation presented through Jesus.
This judgment takes place at the end of the thousand years of Jesus’s reign over earth,
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Revelation 20:7-10
This judgment is conducted by God Himself. Those not found in the Book of Life will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where Satan, the beast, the false prophet, hell, and death
